Repairing cheap Westinghouse dehumidifier


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Old 08-22-16, 10:37 AM
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Repairing cheap Westinghouse dehumidifier

Hello all –

Looking for some help repairing a cheap (
 
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Old 08-22-16, 01:36 PM
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Welcome to the forums.

There are two wires to the compressor. One is neutral and one is switched 120vac.
Are you getting 120vac across them when compressor should be running ?
 
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Old 08-23-16, 12:56 PM
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Thanks PJmax

I would answer yes - without unplugging the wires, I stuck the multi-meter contacts into the red (going into thermal overload switch) and the black going into the compressor. Reading 122.5-ish vac I think I can hear a faint click after the fan motor engages which I assume is the compressor trying to start. Thanks again
 
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Old 08-23-16, 01:59 PM
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Thought I should check the wire leaving the thermal overload switch (round with wire wrapped around it looking like a spring) and the black at the compressor - here there is not 120vac but rather .119 or something. Might this be conclusive that the thermal overload protection switch should be replaced? THANKSName:  20160821_132200.jpg
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Old 08-23-16, 11:27 PM
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Sure appears to be bad.

When you checked the resistances on the compressor windings.... did you check the windings to ground. There should be no continuity measured.
 
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Old 08-24-16, 01:59 PM
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Hi PJmax-

So there should be 120vac across the thermal switch - unless it's real hot and 'tripped'.

I'm not positive I know what checking to ground means. There are three prongs on top of the compressor (not counting the thermal overload) and I measured 3 'pairs' of the three prongs - so 2 at a time. That's where came up with about 16, 14, and 2 ohms which I read somewhere else was indicative of an 'okay' compressor - since 2 of the 3 'pairs' readings summed to the 3rd.

Maybe check to ground means each of the 3 prongs on one multi-meter lead and the other lead to ground or the black ground wire? Thanks again
 
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Old 08-24-16, 04:20 PM
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Check from one prong at a time to ground..... metal compressor case.
 
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Old 08-24-16, 08:15 PM
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Hello Pete-

With unit unplugged and no wires connected to 3 compressor terminals, checked each using a spot on the compressor where I scratched off some paint and checked once using the bolts holding compressor to plastic shell. These readings were are fairly consistent at 13.9, .2, and 2.2 for the 3 prongs. Wondering if these were good sources for the ground lead due to rubber washers, etc. used a nearby Metro brand metal shelving unit and in those tests all 3 prongs yielded 0.L.

Again the thermal switch is reading 0.L.

Tried testing the power into and out of the thermal switch and found only 11.6vac and 2.7vac respectively.

Found the thermal switch online for $18 & $20 but holding off in case we think the compressor is toast.

Thanks again! ~matt
 
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Old 08-24-16, 08:43 PM
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It would appear the compressor is toast.

Between any terminal and the metal case you should not see any continuity.
The terminal that measure .2 ohms is the one shorted internally to the case.
 
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Old 08-26-16, 10:08 AM
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Thanks again Pete!

I checked a final time, willing the compressor to be good. I filed off some paint on the compressor case and got all the same readings as before. Enjoyed learning about this. Great site and help.

Good to know <with luck> that one could find and replace a bad part and get more use out of the unit, even tho that apparently is not the case here.

Take care!
~matt
 
 

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